Author: Danielle Dion

Hello everyone, Danielle with Quoddy Link Marine here bring you some OCTOBER updates. I have NO idea how it is already October but the whale sightings continue to be great. We have had a few days where we were confined to the Islands due to high winds and some fog but on the days we have been able to get offshore we are still seeing some fin whales (they have been testing our patience with some very long dives) and the past few days we have found a few familiar humpbacks including Chevron and Goblin.

grey seals hauled out at low tide

minke whale

Head Harbour Light (East Quoddy Head Light)

minke whale

large male grey seal

finback whale

Chevron

humpback whale preparing to raise its tail (note the pectoral flippers stretched out to the side)

humpback

Chevron

grey seals

minke whale

blow of a humpback

Chevron

watching a humpback whale from the Fundy Odyssey

humpback

humpback

Chevron

Thanks so much for checking in with us today and remember to check out our Facebook page for daily updates, pictures, videos and lots of whale information year round!

Hello everyone, thank you for checking in with us here at Quoddy Link Marine! September continues to bring some wonderful sightings and as long as the weather is appropriate we are getting offshore towards the Wolves Bank and spending time with finbacks and/or humpbacks. This week we had a new humpback show up in our area, Goblin, a whale we have spent time with in 2009-2011.

Chevron

Chevron

Chevron

minke in the Fundy fog

Goblin

Goblin

Chevron

Chevron

pair of finbacks

finback whale

finback whale

humpback

Thank you for checking in with us today! We are still offering trips for about another three weeks so please give us a call at 1-877-688-2600 and join us on the Bay of Fundy!

Hello everyone, thanks so much for checking in with us again!! We have been dealing with so much thick September fog the past few days but still making it out and finding some holes and finding whales! There was one day where we headed offshore and there was a huge hole right on top of the Wolves Bank and we found 3 minkes, a finback and a humpback, Chevron.

Hello everyone, Danielle with Quoddy Link Marine here with a few weeks of updates! I’m so sorry the updates have not been as often here but as always please check our Facebook page for daily departure reports.

The sightings have been very consistent over the past few weeks, so when then weather allows us to venture further offshore towards the Wolves Bank that is where we have been seeing humpbacks and finbacks! We have also seen many minke whales and a few fin whales in amongst the Islands on shorter trips and windier days. We did have a special sighting of a pair of NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES on September 1st!

North Atlantic right whale

North Atlantic right whale

Chevron

Chevron

Chevron

Tail throw from Vader

Vader

humpback

Chevron

humpback blow

humpback

Cork

finback whale

harbour porpoise

finback whale

humpback and the Grand Manan ferry

Quoddy Link and humpback whale

On the morning of September 9th we had our Annual Offshore Trip. The weather wasn’t ideal but certainly not the worst we have had. The week before was filled with high winds so there was quite a swell past Grand Manan and we had some early morning Fundy fog to deal with as well. With some patience and searching we did find a number of finback whales and minke whales on the Bank and off Long Eddy and then as the tide continued to flood we headed back towards the Wolves Bank where we found 2 humpback whales that were quickly IDed as Chevron and Cork! Cork is my all time favourite humpback and we have been spending time with her in our area since 2004.

finback whale

Long Eddy Light AKA “the whistle”

humpback approaching the Quoddy

humpback

Cork!!

Chevron

humpback

A really cool humpback whale has shown up in our area over the past few days named Gemini! Gemini is what we refer to as an “old-timer” as he was added to the North Atlantic Humpback Whale Catalogue in 1976 when the project first began. Gemini was added as #16 and now there are well over 5000 whales in the NAHWC.

Gemini

Gemini

Gemini

Gemini

Gemini

Gemini

Gemini

Thanks so much for checking back in with us and please don’t forget you can always check our Facebook page for daily sightings reports and images.

Good evening everyone, I am sorry that I have not posted here in the past week (and I will post more later with pictures!) but I just wanted to let you know that we are still seeing humpbacks and finbacks offshore when we are able to travel the distance. When the weather isn’t so great and keeps us confined to the inner Islands we are spending time with both minke whales and finbacks!

Again, sorry for not posting sooner and I will post more later with lots of pictures. As always, for the most up-to-date information please follow our Facebook page.

August 18th, 2017So sounds like they were able to make their way to the Wolves Bank on all three departures. They had multiple fin and humpback whales.

August 19th, 2017Today the wind, rain and fog kept us in the islands.
The morning departure we took Western Passage and quickly found a minke whale in the Old Sow. It was seen once and disappeared on us. We then continued on to Wilson’s Beach, to find another one, which did the same thing. Making our way along Campobello Island, we found a third minke whale which was much more co-operative.

On the afternoon departure we made our way into the Islands. Nothing larger than harbour porpoises were seen. So while making our way towards Wilson’s beach, a large fin whale surface right along side on the boat! We were able to watch it then do a series of dives before we lost it in the fog. We then spent the rest of the afternoon looking to find a minke whale, which all eluded us.

We canceled the evening departure due to the increasing foggy conditions in the Islands.

Thanks to everyone that joined us the past few days on these departures!

Thanks for checking in with us!! For the most up to date info and lots of fun whale information all year-long please LIKE our Facebook page

Hello all, it’s Danielle here to share another bird update thanks to Todd and some images from Jolinne!

We are now regularly heading out to Wolf Banks and sea-bird numbers continue to increase. Here are a few quick notes on some species of interest.

Wilson’s Storm Petrel are present in very good numbers. On one occasion, a very quick scan going half way around the boat produced over 500 individuals. Large groups of 50 or more are common. Yesterday, there was a group of 75 dancing next to the boat for an expended period.

Leach’s Storm Petrel are present. They are far outnumbered by Wilson’s and I don’t have time to sort these birds, so their numbers are unknown.

Northern Gannet are fairly numerous with sightings occurring from Green’s Point on out. If other sea-birds are around, some gannet are likely there as well.

Greater Shearwater are also regularly sighted from Bliss Island on out. Flocks size seems to max out around 100.

Sooty Shearwater are present, but not very common.

Red-necked Phalarope are also common sightings. At this point in time, groups containing 2 to 4 dozen individuals are common. Larger flock sizes were being observed earlier this year.

Terns and small gulls are numerous amongst the islands.

Alcid numbers have dropped off.

great shearwater

storm petrels

great shearwater

adult bald eagle

red-necked phalaropes

great shearwater

Bonaparte’s gull

immature northern gannet

feeding northern gannets

Arctic tern

female peregrine falcon

Bonaparte’s gulls

Thank you for checking in with us and THANK YOU to Todd for sharing your bird sightings!

Good evening all! I’m back with another amazing update from the Quoddy Link thanks to Jolinne!

August 17, 2017We were quite surprised that we were able to make our way to the Banks today… the forecast didn’t sounds so good but thankfully for once they were wrong in our favour.

The morning departure we didn’t fully make our way to the Bank because we found 2 fin whales and a humpback. So we stopped and turned around. The fin whales were never seen again, so we spent the morning with Puppet. This whale did some short dives and never moved from the boat. At then end we were able to watch Puppet play around with some rockweed!

The afternoon departure we went straight off to the Banks. There were 3-5 fin whales traveling around. We also spent time with 3 humpbacks; Puppet and Tusk was still traveling with Partition.

The evening they made their way to Southern Wolf and spent time with 2 humpbacks. They also had a fin whale in the distance.

Hello everyone, Danielle here again to bring you more updates and incredible pictures from Jolinne!

August 16, 2017It should be mentioned that as much as we have been able to watch humpback whales for the past few days, it’s only because the weather (light winds) has allowed us to make our way further out to the Wolves Bank.

The morning departure we made our way to the Bank and started off with a few fin whales. We then moved on and spent the majority of the morning with Motley and her calf. There was also a single humpback, Chevron in the area. We then ended the trip with a few fin whales.

Motley and her 2017 calf

Motley and her 2017 calf

Motley

Chevron

Chevron

Motley and her 2017 calf

Fin whales

On the afternoon departure the fog lifted and we had fin whales and humpbacks all around us. There were 3 fin whales charging around the area. We seen Chevron and Tusk who was traveling with another humpback. We got to see the “Tusk Twist” and also some pectoral flipper slapping.

fin whale and a porpoise

humpback

humpback

humpback

Chevron

grey seal

storm petrels

fin whales in front and humpback behind

the “Tusk Twist”

seals on Black Ledge

The evening departure began with spending time with Bungee and her calf. A third individual joined Bungee. We then saw some breaching. Cork was in the area along with at least 4 fin whales. Then there was some more breaching and flipper slapping, I believe it was Cork. Puppet was still seen further out and then the trip ended with Tusk doing his twist next to Partition.

humpback

humpback

humpback

humpback

humpbacks

greater shearwater

humpbacks

Tusk

Thanks to everyone that joined us on these departures!

Thanks for checking in again today! And thank you so much to Jolinne for keeping the Facebook page up to date while I can’t be out there!

Hello everyone, Danielle back with another update, this time from Jolinne and Ashley! Thank You Ladies for keeping us all up to date!

August 15th, 2017

The morning departure we headed off into the fog to the Wolves Bank. Once we got there we spent some with a humpback mom and calf pair, Motley and her 2017 calf. These two were never diving for long or moving very far. We then moved on to a trio of humpbacks; Bungee and her 2017 calf that was joined by Ridgeline (I called this whale, “the one with the black tail”). We saw Ridgeline back in 2011! It’s always great to see whales that we haven’t seen in awhile come back to the area. On our way home, two other humpbacks surfaced near the boat, however we didn’t spend time with them.

The afternoon departure we once again headed off to the Banks. The fog seemed to be even thicker than it was in the morning, however, it did end up clearing. There were 5 fin whales; 2 pairs and a single, feeding in the area. We also spent time with a trio of humpbacks; Bungee and her 2017 calf and Ridgeline. Then there was a huge breach and I lost track of everything else… Puppet decided to breach and tail slap for quite some time. Motley and her 2017 calf were also seen in the distance.

The evenings departure report is brought to you by Ashley “Mom and calf humps, multiple other humps – breach, tail lobbing!!! A group of Fin whales really close 🙂” Another amazing trip on the Bay of Fundy!

Thanks to everyone that joined us on these departures!

trio of humpbacks

Puppet

Puppet

Puppet

Bungee and her 2017 calf

Bungee and her 2017 calf

2017 calf of Bungee

Bungee

Puppet

trio of humpbacks

humpback

breach close to the Quoddy Link

humpback

Ridgeline. We saw Ridgeline back in 2011, the tail has matured a lot and was not an easy match. THANK YOU to Laurie from the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station for the help!

Thank You for checking in here!! Check back often for lots of updates!

Blog Editor Profile – Danielle

I have been working for Quoddy Link Marine since 2002. I graduated from the University of Guelph with an honors BSc. in Marine Biology. I'm in charge of photographing, identifying and recording the whales that we see and sharing that information with Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, MA and the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station on Grand Manan, NB. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to spend the amount of time I do on the water with the whales, they are absolutely amazing creatures.

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